Wood-Burning Stoves

With the chill in the air comes the smell of fireplaces and wood‐burning stoves. Both can bring many hours of enjoyment but, like most appliances, they require seasonal maintenance and proper inspection.

Be sure to have your fireplace or wood‐burning stove professionally inspected at the beginning of each season. A professional inspection will include checking the flue and chimney for blockages and cracks. These simple checks can save you big over time.

Additionally, if it has been more than a year since your last thorough cleaning, it may be time to contact a chimney sweep to clean out any built up soot. This will help avoid a chimney or vent fire.

Once you begin to enjoy your fireplace or wood‐burning stove, a few simple precautions can help you minimize your risk:

Be sure to always burn well‐seasoned wood.

Always store ashes in a non‐combustible metal container.

Never store ashes near combustibles.

Never store ashes in your house or garage. Be sure they are stored outside at a safe distance from your house, garage or any other structures.

Fireplaces and wood‐burning stoves can bring years of safe enjoyment if you perform simple annual maintenance and treat them with respect.